As a married person, you may have thought that getting your pets to behave in your new home would be easy. After all, they are family now! However, this is not always the case. Pets can cause problems by being destructive or aggressive when they don’t like something about their new surroundings. If you’re having trouble with your pet’s behavior in the new house (or if you just want to make sure it doesn’t happen), keep reading for 11 helpful tips on how to get them behaving properly.
Train them to be clean.
Pets are often protective of their food bowls, toys and favorite spots around the house. If they feel like these things aren’t safe in your new home, or if you simply haven’t had time to let them know where it’s okay for them to go yet, then they may act out by chewing on furniture legs or going to the bathroom in inappropriate places. Make sure you establish rules early on and stick to them – like always putting their food bowls away after they’re done eating or only letting them play with toys that are designated for outside use.
Be consistent with your commands.
If you tell your dog “No” one time when they jump on the couch and another when they jump on your new bed, you’re going to confuse them. They won’t know which behaviors are okay and which ones aren’t – especially if jumping is a normal part of their behavior in general (for example, many dogs naturally get excited or want attention by jumping up). Be sure that all family members follow the same rules and stay consistent with their commands.
Take them on a tour of the house.
Before you bring your new dog home, give them an opportunity to explore the entire area they’ll be living in by themselves (and not tethered outside). This will help establish that this is now “their” place as well – it’s where they can relax and feel safe. You may also want to do the same thing when you first bring them home, so that they know where everything is and don’t get too overwhelmed.
Introduce them gradually to new people, animals and objects.
It’s not fair to suddenly throw your new dog into a room full of strange people or animals. They’ll likely be scared and act out as a result. Instead, introduce them gradually to new people, animals and objects over time. This will help them feel more comfortable in their new surroundings and lessen the chances of them having any negative reactions.
Get them used to spending time alone.
If you’re going to be busy at work or running errands for a few hours, your new dog is going to have to get used to being alone. They may not like it at first (especially if they’re naturally more clingy), but over time they’ll learn that you always come back and everything will be okay. You can make the training process easier by giving them plenty of toys and things to occupy their time with.
Be consistent about the rules.
Just as it’s important for everyone in your family to follow the same rules, it’s also crucial that any pet sitter you hire is willing to abide by them too. If they don’t respect the boundaries (or if they aren’t following whatever house rules you’ve put in place), it can lead to serious behavioral problems for your pet.
Make sure they get enough exercise.
Dogs and cats need a certain amount of exercise each day in order to stay healthy and behave well. If they’re cooped up all the time or only getting let out once a day, they may act out in order to get some attention. Try to take them for a walk or play with them in the yard at least once a day, and more if you can.
Make sure they have their own space.
Just like humans need their own personal space, so do pets. They should have an area where they can go to relax without being bothered – whether it’s a designated spot on the couch, their own bed or even an outdoor kennel. This will help them feel more comfortable and avoid feeling overwhelmed in your new home.
Married couples with pets face a unique set of challenges when moving into a new home together. As you can see, there are plenty of things you can do to help them adjust and behave well in their new surroundings. By following these tips, both you and your furry friend will be happier in the long run!
Clara is a wedding planner and has been running her business for a decade now. Aside from that, she is also a card maker in which why their business has a lot of choices for wedding invitations.
